January 15, 2017

Professional Resume

EXPERIENCE Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY09/13-presentWilliam Randolph Hearst FellowCollaborate with Center staff, donors and alumni on an impact study of the International Fellows Program, which brings emerging and senior leaders from community foundations and support organizations from around the world for research and reflection. Support to the Center's mission to strengthen civil society through education, research, and leadership training.Open Society Foundations, New York, NY05/10-08/13Deputy Director, East East Beyond Borders ProgramDirected program dedicated to peer-to-peer learning and exchange among practitioners of open society. Primary responsibility for review and approval of 100+ proposals annually from Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, submitted by a network of coordinators based in 28 countries. Assisted with the development of the program globally and adapting the infrastructure to new realities. Organized network-wide meetings and developed an information management system to share knowledge about funded projects. Program Officer, Office of the President 11/02-05/10Reviewed and evaluated grant proposals on human rights, transparency and accountability and made funding recommendations to President. Worked closely with grantees and legal department to issue grant contract and payment. Monitored grants through reporting, site visits and evaluations. Tracked $ 30 million in grant budgets. Coordinated with other OSF programs and provided other support to the President. Special projects included coordinating proposals for a $ 200 million special innovation fund, overseeing a $ 50 million grant to the Millennium Villages Initiative, developing a grant portfolio for China, setting up a new entity in Nepal, and working on a team to improve knowledge management throughout the network.12/01-11/02Program Assistant, Office of the Regional Director for the Western BalkansAssisted the Regional Director in managing OSF's National Foundations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Reported semi-annually on a C$ 1 million grant from the Canadian International Development Agency for 5 projects in Southeastern Europe. Prepared budgets and financial statements. Organized regional conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia.Law Office of Sandra P. Nichols, New York, NY, USA3/99-9/99; Paralegal10/00-12/01Completed and submitted asylum applications, work petitions, family petitions and business visas for an immigration practice of primarily refugees. Interviewed clients and documented instances of torture. Researched country conditions and case law. Managed multiple filing deadlines. Wrote successful grant application for September 11th hardship relief. Consulted to the office from 2002 to 2006.U.S. Department of State, Prague, Czech Republic9/97-12/97Consular InternProcessed visa applications, helped conduct visa interviews, and accompanied Consular officers on prison visits. Revised and updated the duty officer handbook, reviewed local medical clinics, and tracked and documented visa fraud cases.EDUCATION the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY9/13-presentPh.D. program in political sciencefocus: donor support for civil society in democratizing countries5/07-6/07Washington College of Law, the American University, Washington, DCCertificate; Academy of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Summer Program9/99-9/00London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United KingdomM.S.; comparative politics; graduated with meritfocus: democratic transition and consolidation, the politics of development2/99Universidad de la Habana, Havana, CubaCertificate in Advanced Spanish Studies; seminar on the political and economic situation and met with Cuban students9/93-5/98University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MichiganB.A.; political science and communications studies; graduated with distinction